Matthew Olivolo March 31st, 2009

Traveling this day and age requires some knowledge of current rules and regulations posted by Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).  Making your travel experience more convenient and enjoyable is our number one Mission at Mobile Edge.  I’m writing a two part “Must Have Travel Accessories for 2009,” article to shed some light on new regulations, and some new travel accessories that will make your life easier when traveling.

As you may know, the airline industry has made several changes to travel policies and guidelines. Keep this blog site book marked for future travel related tips and Part 2 of this article.

Must have travel accessories for 2009 are geared to make your traveling experience  easier by offering devises to help maximize your luggage by assisting you in getting the most for your dollar.

The policies that have been recently implemented by the major airlines in regards to luggage restrictions pertain to two factors; weight and size of the luggage itself. Must have travel accessories for 2009 are items that tailor to these factors. For that reason alone, here are a few must have travel accessories for 2009.

Packing cubes and organizers: Packing cubes and organizers are a must have travel accessory for 2009 as they aid in creating more space in luggage. Major airlines require that carry-on luggage be less than 45 inches in combined length allowing them to fit in the overhead compartment of the aircraft. These items are easy to find and are a great travel accessory to add for this reason. Packing cubes and organizers can also help to minimize the need for an additional checked bag for longer travel periods.

Airline approved bottles and quart sized plastic bags: With the implementation of 3-1-1 by TSA in 2006, these items are still considered a must have travel accessory for 2009. Liquids larger than 3oz can only be brought along in your checked baggage, so for liquid items to be packed in a carry on it must be 3oz or less. Many travel size health and beauty products are now manufactured in accordance with the 3-1-1 policy in mind and are clearly labeled as “airline friendly” for this reason.

Laptop bags: Everyone knows accidents can happen, and with many of us being reliant on our technological devises for working on the road (or plane) a padded laptop bag is a must have travel accessory for 2009. Padded laptop bags help to minimize the possibility of damage to your laptop from an accidental drop. Click here to start your search for the perfect laptop case designed just for you.

Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags: The TSA approved specific designs to be considered Checkpoint Friendly, meaning travelers no longer need to remove their laptops from their bags when passing through airport security checkpoints.  Mobile Edge has one of the largest selections of Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags on the market, with a TSA Approved Briefcase, Messenger Bag and Backpack for men.  Just for women, the ScanFast Onyx Briefcase, Backpack and Element Briefcases (in three color options) are all TSA compliant.

USB 2.0 Card Reader and 3-Port Hub: There is nothing worse when traveling than not being able to download images you take while on the road.  Plus, most new laptops and Netbooks come with only a few USB Ports.  The All in one Card Reader and 3-Port Hub is the perfect travel companion allows you to download information from multiple memory cards and give you three additional USB 2.0 Ports.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the Must Have Travel Accessories for 2009 article.

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Matthew Olivolo March 30th, 2009

The new Mobile Edge Netbook Briefcase was reviewed on Just Another Mobile Monday (JAMM) Blog Site with some very favorable comments.  To read the full article click on the link at the bottom of the page.

Very few laptop bags actually are designed to hold something as small as a 10 inch Netbook.  Put this in a standard laptop bag and watch your poor Netbook slide around in there, swimming through the padding, which might as well not be there at all.

Enter Mobile Edge, a company which sent us an email not long ago advertising the very thing I had been seeking…computer bags designed to hold my tiny Netbook.  So, we dispatched Sue to meet with them and see if we could get our hands on a few bags to review.  And boy did she do a great job.  Before long, I was transferring all of my normal commuting necessities from my seven year old unpadded briefcase to a shiny, new Mobile Edge briefcase, designed specifically for my Netbook.  Hit the jump to see how the bag fared on my daily commute.

I feel like ever since I got my MSI Wind, I have been downsizing everything, and this is no exception.  I went from my giant laptop bag to a standard sized briefcase, to this incredibly compact briefcase.  How small is it, well, as you can see above, it is small enough to fit completely inside my old briefcase (while it was packed full).  As small as it was, though, it can hold an impressive array of items in those four small pockets.

The main pocket zips open to reveal two sections.  The rear is the real main attraction.  This is a padded compartment specifically sized to fit your 10 inch screen (or smaller) Netbook.  A small velcro divider is also included on one side, allowing you to firmly secure your Netbook, while also creating a compartment for your power cable.  Perfect.

The rest of the main compartment is a large open space.  Use this for anything you need to carry.  I used it to carry my notebook, a few folders, and my kindle 2.  During the week, when I ride the train, you might also find the latest Washington Post in here.

I really liked this main compartment.  It was maybe a tiny spec smaller than I would have liked (sometimes the paper really got crammed in there) but it worked well.  I would have liked some small accessory pockets in here as well.  I have a number of gadgets and accessories (as you might imagine) which ended up floating around inside this compartment.  It would have been nice to have had a more permanent home for them.  I also wish this compartment could have been expandable.  Most briefcases allow you to open a zipper and expand the compartment, allowing it to be filled with a few extra items.  As it was, I thought this compartment offered a good solution for carrying everything I needed.  But it fell a few small modifications short of being great!

Behind the main pocket is a fairly standard magazine pocket.  I really did not use this much.  I’ve never had much use for these rear pockets.  I was surprised, however, not to find a strap or opening to slide the briefcase over the handle of my rolling suitcase.  That seems to be pretty standard these days.

In front of the main compartment are two smaller pockets.  First is a nice pocket, which actually opens on three sides, giving you fantastic access.  In addition to the large (much larger than it looks from the outside) compartment, there are also three pen slots and two open pockets behind this zipper.  I found these spaces were perfect for all of those items which I need to carry on a regular basis, but do not need regular access to.  Things like tissues, cough drops, and even my umbrella.

Finally, in front of this is a fairly large sized velcro pocket.  This is a nice place for accessories.  Just be forewarned that although it has a huge flap to help the rain runoff, there is also an opening in the flap (presumably for a headphone cord) so it is not water tight.  Still, I really liked this pocket, which I used to carry my Clearpoint Portable Hotspot.

One side of the bag also contains a mesh water bottle pocket, while the other is empty.  I wish there had been another small pocket on this side which could be used for cables or other small accessories.

The other thing I need to mention here is the construction of the bag.  Mobile Edge did a fantastic job with this one.  The whole bag is constructed from extremely durable ballistic nylon, which really gives it a very sturdy feel.
Unlike some bags I have tested, the zippers are extremely thick, and just glide open and shut.  In lieu of the zipper pulls, the bag features nylon ties on each zipper, branded with the Mobile Edge logo.

The handles and shoulder strap are also well constructed and sturdy, with plastic handgrips ensuring the bag will not slip from your hand.  The shoulder strap also features an ergonomic pad, which stretches to conform to the shape of your shoulder, ensuring the weight is always evenly distributed.

I have to admit that I was not sure what to expect from this bag.  I had never heard of Mobile Edge before and I have reviewed plenty of bags which were all talk and no substance; and plenty of others which more than lived up to their own hype.  This one really impressed me.  From its sturdy ballistic nylon construction to its four versatile pockets, this is one bag which will literally lighten your load.  I know it certainly left an impression (or less of one) on my shoulder since I switched to it.  Simply put, you will look great while protecting your investment.  Who could ask for anything more?

To read the full review click here.

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Matthew Olivolo March 27th, 2009

Anaheim, Calif. – CAMEX 2009, sponsored by the National Association of College Stores (NACS), the collegiate retailing’s premier event consisted of two days of intensive retail education, speakers and special events followed by a three-day trade show which featured the latest products intended for student consumers aged 18-24.

During CAMEX more than 710 companies occupied more than 1,500 booths, showcasing items from more than 100 different product categories — from the latest collegiate apparel to pencils, Laptop Bags and accessories to organic beauty products.

Mobile Edge located a few miles away from the Anaheim Convention center where the event took place hosted an after hours event at their Corporate Headquarters where affiliate Distributor Reps from D&H and Douglas Stewart along with Collegiate Computer Store buyers where invited.

The catered event with sumptuous hor derves and cocktails made for a terrific evening.  More than 100 collegiate buyers and distribution partners attended the event throughout the evening all enjoying the complimentary evening.

A billiards table, Fuse Ball Table and Ping Pong table were set up for attendees to enjoy at their leisure while taking in the ambiance of the ultra clean Mobile Edge warehouse.

“I had the best time hanging out with the Mobile Edge team,” said Bill Gargano, Florida State University Computer Store Buyer.  “They always treat you like family, and it was fun to see friendly interaction between D&H and Douglas Stewart representatives.”

At the end of the evening, attendees had the chance to sign a wall inside the warehouse near the entrance to Mobile Edge offices.  One of the best quotes of the evening read, “A mashed potato bar? No party will ever top that… ever,” from BBA, The University of The Arts Buyer.

Thanks to all that attended, we look forward to meeting with you and showing off our newest products just in time for Back to School at the CCRA Show in April .  Here are a few more images capturing the evening.

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Matthew Olivolo March 17th, 2009

The design team at Mobile Edge is once again basking at their fine work, introducing the first actual Collection of Netbook Cases on the market.  In the crowded category of Netbook sleeves, there really has not been a company to produce a Collection of structured Netbook cases.  Enter Mobile Edge, which just released three new Netbook cases to fill the void in the marketplace.  The Collection consists of a traditional Edge Netbook Briefcase, the on-the-go Netbook Messenger Bag and a functional and rugged Edge Netbook Backpack.  Designed to fit ultra portable Netbooks from 8.9  to 10 inch screens with an adjustable computer compartment.  By removing the insert, the cases will accommodate laptops up to 13″.  A pretty versatile case collection indeed.

This new Collection was featured on a prominent Netbook Blog site called Netbook Digest, and the writer had some good things to say about the new line.  Here is a brief clip of the article.

First of all, Netbooks are small computers and thus, they can pretty much fit in whatever carrying device you have lying around.  I have been known to tote my Netbook around with me in a messenger bag I got for free from a campus give-away.  It’s about as functional as a plastic bag and only slightly more stylish.  This works for me, but I’m told business professionals and hip youngsters alike want the safety of their expensive pieces technology to be absolutely assured, and for that purpose a plastic bag does not fit the bill, even if it’s the biodegradable kind with the reinforced bottoms.
Ok, so you’ve managed to whittle down the massive field of Netbooks currently available to a single choice, decided on an operating system, and splurged that extra money you’ve been saving on a brand new Netbook in all its tiny glory.  The day comes when your shipment arrives from whatever foreign country in was manufactured in and you tare open the box with glee to find your splendiferous new Netbook ready to use in its splendor.  You mess around for an hour or so, maybe change your Linux distro, or install a hacked OS X on it, and you think you’ve got it working pretty well.  You decide to take it out for its first test run.  In horror, you realize that the tiny, nylon zippered Netbook sleeve your brand new machine came with is woefully inadequate.

Mobile Edge has a set of seriously sturdy Netbook bags.  Available for around $50, these are sturdy, efficient and functional buggers that are far and away from the various Netbook sleeves-masquerading-as-bags that are commonplace in this particular market.

For the ladies out there looking for a fashionable way to carry around their new Netbook, no doubt with designer case-mod.  Designer Maddie Powers has released a creative line of laptop bags that will fit a Netbook just fine.  These are also available through Mobile Edge and feature a classic 1950s pin-up girl design.  These are definitely form over function, but will no doubt be fine for daily use.  Somehow I doubt anyone who owns one of these will be taking it on a construction site or anything that requires elaborate protective measures for their laptop/Netbook.

To read the full review click here.

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Matthew Olivolo March 17th, 2009

Saint Patrick’s Day is a cherished holiday for many celebrating Irish Heritage and going back into history, the Roman Catholic Church. It is the one day that everyone in the world is Irish for just one day.

This St. Patrick’s Day/Week, get your Green laptop case and show off your style every day of the year. Here are just a few of the many Green laptop bags designed specifically for women by women. For a complete listing of Mobile Edge products click here to visit the company website.

Enjoy a special discount all month long on selected spring like colors by clicking here. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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Matthew Olivolo March 9th, 2009

Our very own Shawn Rapier, Director of Sales for Mobile Edge was interviewed on bnetTV.com during Digital Experience, a media only event to kick off the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Shawn showed off the Men’s ScanFast Collection of TSA compliant laptop bags and showcased the new Women’s Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bag Collection, the ScanFast for Her Collection. Now travelers can leave their laptop in the bags when passing through airport security.  This saves time, hassle, and alleviates the threat of having your laptop stolen or damaged.  The TSA reported that more than 12,000 laptops are lost or stolen at airport checkpoints weekly nationwide.

Most editors were intrigued with the new TSA approved line. Mobile Edge is the leader in Checkpoint Friendly laptop bags, offering the largest range of case options on the market. Known for their stylish women’s laptop cases, it was inevitable that Mobile Edge would be the first to offer TSA complaint laptop cases designed specifically for women.  If you like fresh colors, the ScanFast Element Briefcase Collection is the way to go.  Offered in Pink Suede, Forest Green Suede and all Chocolate all accented with matching striped interior lining , this collection has it all.  For traditional black business cases try the new ScanFast Onyx Briefcase or the all-new Onyx Backpack.

Watch the short video of Shawn explaining the key functionality of this new collection.

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Matthew Olivolo March 2nd, 2009

Mobile Edge recently launched a new collection of Netbook computer cases to accommodate ultra portable from 8.9 inch to 10.1 inch.  The adjustable strap allows the user to remove the strap to accommodate up to a 13.3 inch computer.

Technology reporter, Tamara Chuang, from the Orange County Register was the first to review this new Collection.  Here is a brief clip from her review.

A real bag for a wanna-be laptop (OK, a Netbook)

By Tamara Chuang, a.k.a. The Gadgetress

Some thought Netbooks were a passing fad even though pretty much every PC maker and its mother launched a Netbook last year. I’ve been undecided myself for the past six months. These super-petite laptops weigh in under 3 pounds, cost less than $500 and have all the tools one really needs for everyday connected life. It made me wonder, why do I need my clunky, more powerful laptop?

Well, at least one local manufacturer is betting that Netbooks will live longer than most Internet fads. Mobile Edge, a laptop bag maker in Anaheim, gave me a sneak peek at its first line of Netbook bags. Not Netbook sleeves, mind you. Those aren’t quite as sturdy and are already available.

Mobile Edge, one of the first bag companies to tap into the female market, felt that demand for Netbooks justified a new line of smaller bags, called The Edge Ultraportables. The first three bags are pretty basic — that is, they’re all black — but they have their own sporty style, which makes me want to buy a Netbook so I can get one of these bags.

“We received so much customer feedback regarding making a specific bag for Netbooks other than a sleeve. They wanted something not too big, yet large enough to carry their Netbook, external DVD drive, power cords and other accessories they want to take on the road with them,” said Matthew Olivolo, Mobile Edge’s director of public relations. ”We took that customer feedback and let our design team have some fun.”

Olivolo did admit to me that the launch is smaller than some of its other first-time product launches. So, maybe the company is hedging its bets.

Mobile Edge isn’t the only company with Netbook bags. I saw some cool but flimsy ones from Urban Tool at the Consumer Electronics Show. And there are a handful of others from Solo, Sumdex and CaseLogic – but even these verge on being glorified sleeves. You really want to risk your $400 machine to a single layer of neoprene?

Mobile Edge’s bags are true bags. There are three of them — a backpack, messenger bag and briefcase — and they accommodate Netbooks with screens of 8.9 to 10.1-inches. If an adjustable strap is removed, the compartment can hold a 13.3-inch laptop.
They add a lot of nice pockets to stash cords, memory cards and even a DVD player (since most Netbooks don’t have one built in). Plus, coming from a trusted source like Mobile Edge, the bags have been built by a company that understands that computer bags need to be durable yet protect the electronics inside. Features like shock-absorbing shoulder straps, padded computer compartment, and a lifetime warranty are a given.

To read the full article click here to visit the OC Register’s website.

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